Gravity chute systems

ABSTRACT

A gravity chute system has a substantially vertical riser conduit which is divided into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit. Each of the riser conduit sections is essentially completely closed for deposited objects relative to any adjacent riser conduit section. Objects to be conveyed are deposited in the closed riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit. The riser conduit sections are opened from time to time to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit. Deposited objects are removed from a bottom region of the riser conduit.

United States Patent 1 Lulten [73] Assignee: Aerojet-GeneralCorporation, El

Monte, Calif.

22 Filed: Nov. 2, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 412,360

[52] US. Cl 193/34; 302/27 [51] Int. Cl B65g 11/00; E04f 17/12 [58]Field of Search 193/34, 33, 32; 302/39, 302/27, 17; 222/502, 503, 506,508, 145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,490,813 1/1970 Hallstrom302/17 3,687,503 8/1972 Ekstrom et a1. 193/34 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 332,968 8/1930 United Kingdom 302/27 1,223,279 2/1971United Kingdom 302/17 PRIOR ART June 3, 1975 Primary ExaminerEvon C.Blunk Assistant Examiner-Jeffrey V. Nase Attorney, Agent, or Firm-EdwardO. Ansell; T. Reid Anderson [57 ABSTRACT A gravity chute system has asubstantially vertical riser conduit which is divided into a pluralityof riser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit. Each ofthe riser conduit sections is essentially completely closed fordeposited objects relative to any adjacent riser conduit section.Objects to be conveyed are deposited in the closed riser conduitsections from the outside of the riser conduit. The riser conduitsections are opened from time to time to permit deposited objects toproceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit. Deposited objectsare removed from a bottom region of the riser conduit.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET PATH-MUM 3 I975 Qt wwt wt GRAVITYCHUTE SYSTEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thesubject invention relates to gravity chute systems and, moreparticularly, to gravity chute systems having a substantially verticalriser conduit. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, gravitychute systems according to the subject invention may be employed for adisposal of refuse or a removal of soiled laundry in high-risebuildings.

2. Description of the Prior Art Gravity chute systems are, for instance,used in highrise buildings for vertical conveyance of solid waste orsoiled laundry. Such chutes must either remain open at the bottom or beemptied very frequently to prevent the lower portion of the chute frombeing filled with material which would make it impossible to use thelower floor loading stations.

As may, for instance, be seen from US. Pat. No. 3,687,503, Ekstrom etal., issued Aug. 29, 1972, there exist prior-art proposals which havedealt with the latter problem. However, for the types of gravity chutesunder consideration, there exist additional problems brought about bythe fact that accumulated objects at the bottom of the riser arecompacted by the impact of objects falling from great heights. With aclosed chute system, a dense slug of material forms at the bottom of theriser where it will cause temporary interruption of the use of thegravity chute. This leads to serious problems, since such compactedslugs will not be removed by gravitational forces alone and will alsowithstand removal by ordinary air evacuation systems.

In accordance with an early prior-art proposal, highrise waste chutesystems were thus designed to be open at the bottom for discharge into astorage container, Compactor or storage room.

In order to reduce problems of this type, an early proposal suggestedthe use of a chain of dumb waiter-like arrangements for removing wastefrom different stories of a building down a chute system (see FrenchPat. No. 617.968, by Fernand Bodson, issued Nov. 30, 1926). This systemis noisy in its operation, subject to continuous wear and tear, andconsumptive of perpetual drive energy. Also, this system requires anextra shaft for the return of the dumb waiter pallets.

A serious obstacle to an earlier solution of the problems underconsideration has been the fact that several requirements peculiar togravity chutes in high-rise buildings have not generally permitted anytransplantation of solutions from other fields of utility. This may, forinstance, be seen from a consideration of British Patent SpecificationNo. 966,303, by Eduard Koster, published Aug. 12, 1964.

According to the latter British patent, a stairway structure in avertical mine shaft has several retractable steps projecting fromopposite walls of the shaft proper in an interdigitated relationship. Toavoid the danger of a sudden rush of discharging material through thestairway structure, the steps are retracted in a predetermined pattern.

In particular, the individual steps are retracted in succession from theshaft, starting at the bottom, either by a carriage having an actuatingcam attached to a traveling cable, or by a series of stationaryactuating cams.

The structure disclosed in this British patent specification would notbe suitable for the purposes of a waste or laundry disposal gravitychute system. For one thing, that prior-art system presupposes adeposition of ob- 5 jects directly on the steps of the stairwaystructure. In

addition, the stairway structure is not fireproof and, due to itsconstruction, would generate inordinate amounts of dust if wasteproducts or the like were permitted to fall by the weight of gravityonto the steps of the stairway structure.

When a pneumatic transfer system is utilized to convey the material froma multiple number of gravity chutes to a central point, such chutes areprovided with discharge valves that permit periodic emptying of theaccumulated material into the pneumatic transfer lines below. Eachdischarge valve effectively closes the bottom of the chute when materialis being dumped into it. To avoid the above mentioned problems withhighrise closed chutes, the height limit of gravity chute feeding into apneumatic transfer systems is generally limited to twelve stories orless, depending on the amount of waste handled, the type of occupancyand the storage height available in the lower portion of the chute belowthe lowest landing station.

For buildings having a number of stories exceeding these limits, severalindependent vertical gravity chutes are used, each serving, say, eightto twelve stories, and each having a discharge valve permitting thechute material to be dropped periodically into a common riser chute thatextends for the entire height of the building. This design requiresshaft space for two or three parallel chutes throughout the building aswell as valve room space every twelve floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of this invention toovercome the above mentioned disadvantages.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide improvedmethods of conveying objects through a gravity chute system.

It is a related object of this invention to provide improved gravitychute systems.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent in the furthercourse of this disclosure.

The subject invention resides in a method of conveying objects through agravity chute system, and resides more specifically, in the improvementcomprising in combination the steps of providing a substantiallyvertical riser conduit, dividing the riser conduit into a plurality ofriser conduit sections distributed along the riser conduit, essentiallycompletely closing each of the riser conduit sections for the objectsrelative to any ad jacent riser conduit section, depositing objects inthe closed riser conduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit,opening the riser conduit sections from time to time to permit depositedobjects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit, andremoving the deposited objects from a bottom region of the riserconduit.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, thelocation of the riser conduit sections are maintained stationary in theriser conduit.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention,compressible fluid cushions are provided at the closed riser conduitsections, and the fall of deposited objects is braked in the closedriser conduits with the aid of these compressible fluid cushions.

From another aspect thereof, the subject invention resides in a gravitychute system and, more specifically, resides in the improvementcomprising, in combination, a substantially vertical riser conduit,means for dividing the riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduitsections distributed along the riser conduit, these dividing meansincluding means for essentially completely closing each of the riserconduit sections for the objects relative to any adjacent riser conduitsection, means operatively associated with the riser conduit fordepositing objects in the riser conduit sections from the outside of theriser conduit, means connected to the dividing means for opening theriser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceedtoward a bottom section of said riser conduit, and means operativelyassociated with the riser conduit for removing the deposited objectsfrom a bottom region of the riser conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become more readilyapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals designate like orfunctionally equivalent parts, and in which: I

FIG. 1 is a section through a high-risebuilding being equipped in partwith a prior-art gravity chute system and in part with a gravity chutesystem according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a valve according to a preferred embodiment ofthe subject invention, for use in a gravity chute system of the abovementioned type;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing equipment for actuating thevalve to a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the valve actuatingequipment as positioned when the valve is open; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the valve shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 with a partbroken away for better illustration of the inside of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The high-rise building shown inFIG. 1 is equipped with a priorart gravity chute system 12 whichincludes a vertical riser 13 extending from the bottom to the top of thebuilding. For the purpose of this prior-art gravity chute system, thebuilding is subdivided into a plurality of sections, each being limitedto twelve floors or less. Each such section is equippedwith itsindividual gravity chute subsystem 14.

The subsystems 14 have their own bottom valves 15 through which theyissue into the riser 13 or into another part of the removal system asshown, for instance, for the bottom subsection 14 in FIG. 1.

The disadvantages of the prior-art gravity chute system 12 have beenstated above in detail. Reference should now be had to the right-handportion of FIG. 1 which shows a gravity chute system in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the subject invention.

The gravity chute system 20 shown in FIG. 1 has only one vertical riserconduit 21 extending from the bottom to the top of the building 10.Several valves 22 are located directly in the riser conduit 21 so as tosubdivide the riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections23 distributed along the riser conduit. Unlike prior-art systems, thesystem according to the subject invention does not require separategravity chute subsystems or branches, but is nevertheless capable ofdividing the system into several manageable sections.

As will become apparent in the further course of this disclosure, thevalves 22 are capable of essentially completely closing each of theriser conduit sections 23 relative to any adjacent riser conduitsection, at least as far as the objects being handled by the gravitychute system are concerned.

As in prior-art systems, each floor is provided with equipment fordepositing objects, such as refuse or soiled laundry, in the riserconduit sections from the outside of the riser conduit. Several accessdoors or closures are known for this purpose and can, for instance, beseen in US. Pat. Nos. 1,739,534 and 1,834,171, which are herewithincorporated by reference herein. Accordingly, the access doors orclosures for introducing objects into the gravity chute system are shownmerely schematically at 25 in FIG. 1.

The gravity chute system 20 of FIG. 1 has a bottom valve 26 which may beof the same type as the valves 22 or which may be of a prior-art design.The purpose of the valve 26 is to provide a selectively openable andclosable connection between the riser 21 and a system 28 for removingdeposited objects from a bottom region of the riser conduit. The removalsystem 28 may be of a conventional type. By way of example, this removalsystem may include a truck or similar vehicle as shown, for instance, inthe above mentioned US. Pat. No. 1,739,534. Alternatively oradditionally, one of the well-known types of exhaust system may beemployed for removing deposited objects from the riser conduit bottom.

In considering the gravity chute system 20 shown in FIG. 1, it will benoted that the locations of the conduit sections 23 are maintainedstationary in the riser conduit. This in contradistinction to someprior-art systems which operate in the manner of an elevator with movable containers or plates.

A valve 22 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subjectinvention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 5.

As seen in these figures, the valve 22 is interposed between adjacentriser conduit sections 23. The valve 22 has a housing 31 shaped in themanner of a truncated pyramid whose cross section at the top is largerthan its cross section at the bottom to provide for an accommodation ofa pair of panels or plates 32.

The panels 32 are rotatable or swingable about axes 33 between positions35 and 36 shown in FIG. 2.

The valve 22 is open when the panels 32 are in their position 35 wherebyessentially the entire cross section of the adjacent sections 23 of theriser conduit 21 is opened. In that case, deposited objects are able tofall from one riser conduit section into the next lower conduit section.On the other hand, the valve 22 is closed when the panels 32 are intheir position 36. In that case, the panels 32 extend horizontally andessentially completely close the valve for objects the gravity chutesystem is designed to handle. Since the panels 32, in their position 36,extend essentially over the entire cross section of the riser conduit21, it follows that objects being deposited in the riser conduit by wayof the doors or closures 25 will remain in the particular riser conduitsections until the valves 22 are opened.

Where safety regulations or sanitary considerations require it, specificclosed riser conduit sections or, if

desired, each of the closed riser conduit sections 23 may be vented. Forinstance, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subjectinvention, venting apertures, such as shown at 38 in FIG. 5, may beprovided in one or both of the panels 32. These apertured panels provideair communication inside the riser conduit, even when the panels are intheir closed position 36. The apertures 38 are small enough to preventobjects intended to be retained by the closed valve from falling throughthe panels 32. Alternatively, ventilation may take place through anopening (not shown) in the wall of each valve, or in the conduit beloweach valve, and through a common ventilation duct (not shown) providingair ventilation to the outside of the building, e.g., via the roof.

The panels 32 may be reinforced by frame members 41 to which the panelsare welded or otherwise connected. Nut and bolt assemblies 42 areattached to the panel frame members 41 and extend through bushings 43which are attached to the valve housing 31 to provide pivotal movementof the panels about their respective axes 28.

Actuating levers 45 are attached to the nut and bolt assemblies 42 shownin FIGS. 3 to 5, to provide for an actuation of the panels 32. Eachactuating lever 45 has a linkage 46 articulately connected thereto.

The linkages 46 are pivotally connected to a carriage 48 which rides ona rail 49. The carriage 48 is connected to an end of a piston rod 51,the other end of which is connected to a piston shown in dotted outlineat 52in FIG. 3.

The piston 52 rides in an air cylinder 54 which, in turn, isarticulately connected at 55 to a support 56. The support 56 is weldedor otherwise connected to the valve housing 31.

Two springs 58 act on the linkages 46 in order to bias the panels 32. totheir open position in the quiescent, open position'of the valve 32. Inorder to actuate the valve to its closed position, pressurized air issupplied via a pressure line 61 to the air cylinder 54. Thepressure'line 61 is connected to a source 63 of pressurized air by wayof a valve 62.

The valve 62 may be of a conventional three-way type which has a firstposition in which air from the cylinder 54 and line 61 is vented to theatmosphere as shown at 65, and a second position in which pressurizedair is applied from the source 63 through the pressure line 61 to theair cylinder 54. When air is vented to the atmosphere as shown at 65,then the springs 58 are able to bias the panels 32 to their openposition 35. On the other hand, when pressurized air is admitted to theair cylinder from the source 63, then the piston 52 is pushed upwardlyand the panels 32 are actuated to their closed position 36 against thebias of the springs 58.

If desired, the air cylinder assembly may be mounted above the linkages46 so that the panels 32 are biased to their closed position by thespring 58 and are actuated to their open position by the air cylinderand piston assembly.

In the operation of gravity chute system, the valves 22 are normallymaintained closed so that deposited articles will not fall down to thebottom of the system, but will remain compartmentalized for the timebeing. From time to time, the valves 22 and also the valve 26 are openedto permit deposited objects to fall to the bottom of the system forremoval therefrom. In practice, each valve 22 may have its own air valve62 and a timer or other conventional timing device may be employed toopen the valves 22 in a desired sequence. such as from the bottom to thetop of the system, to prevent an undue load on any of the valves. Mediaother than pressurized air may, in accordance with prior-art practices,be employed for the actuation of the valves 22.

An important feature of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawingsresides in the fact that the pressurized air in the cylinder 54 providesa compressible fluid cushion at the closed riser conduit section 23.This fluid cushion acts on the panels 32 by way of the cylinder 52,linkages 46 and actuating levers 45 in order to break the fall ofdeposited objects. In this manner, objects which are deposited in ariser conduit section and which fall onto the closed panels 32 are notable to deform or destroy the panels. Rather, the impact generated bythese objects is absorbed by the fluid cushion in the air cylinder 54.It is, therefore, preferred that a compressible medium be employed foractuating the piston 52.

The subject disclosure will suggest or render apparent furthermodifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the subjectinvention.

I claim:

1. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, theimprovement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationaryriser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; saiddividing means including means for essentially closing each of saidriser conduit sections in one position against passage of objectstherethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositingobjects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riserconduit; 3

means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduitsections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottomsection of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

means for venting each of said closed riser conduit sections.

2. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, theimprovement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationaryriser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; saiddividing means including means for essentially closing each of saidriser conduit sections in one position against passage of objectstherethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositingobjects in said riser conduit sections front the outseide of said riserconduit;

means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduitsections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottomsection of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

said dividing means include means for providing air communication insidesaid riser conduit sections between said riser conduit sections whensaid riser conduit sections are closed for said objects.

3. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, theimprovement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduitsections distributed along said riser conduit;

said dividing means being stationary and including closing means foressentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one positionagainst passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositingobjects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riserconduit;

opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riserconduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward abottom section of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit;

said dividing means include plate members dimensional to extend over theentire cross section of said riser conduit;

said opening means include means for actuating said plate members tofirst positions in which the cross section of the riser conduit issubstantially open; and

said closing means include means for actuating said plate members tosecond positions in which the entire cross section of the riser conduitis essentially closed for said objects by said plate members.

4. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, theimprovement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduitsections distributed along said riser conduit;

said dividing means being stationary and including closing means foressentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in one positionagainst passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositingobjects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riserconduit;

opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riserconduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward abottom section of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit;

said dividing means include apertured members for providing aircommunication inside said riser conduit between said riser conduitsections when said riser conduit sections are closed for said objects,said apertured members being dimensioned to extend over the entire crosssection of said riser conduit;

said opening means include means for actuating said open; and

said closing means include means for actuating said apertured members tosecond positions in which the entire cross section of the riser conduitis essentially closed for said objects by said apertured members. 5. Ina gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, the improvementcomprising in combination:

a substantially veritcal riser conduit; means for dividing said ri'serconduit into a plurality of riser con duit sections distributed alongsaid riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and includingclosing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduitsections in one position against passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositingobjects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riserconduit; opening means connected to said dividing means for opening saidriser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceedtoward a bottom section of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; saiddividing means include means for providing compressible fluid cushionswith movement of the riser conduit sections to their closed positions;and

means connected to said fluid cushion providing means for braking thefall of deposited objects with the aid of said compressible fluidsections.

6. In agravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, theimprovement comprising in combination:

a substantially vertical riser conduit;

means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduitsections distributed along said riser conduit; said dividing meansincluding means for essentially closing each of said riser conduitsections in one position against passage of objects therethrough;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for depositingobjects in said riser conduit sections from the outside of said riserconduit;

means connected to said dividing means for opening said riser conduitsections whereby to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottomsection of said riser conduit;

means operatively associated with said riser conduit for removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

means is provided for opening the several riser conduit sections insequence from the lowermost section in an upwardly direction to theuppermost section. 7. In a method of conveying deposited objects througha gravity chute system, the improvement comprising in combination thesteps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riserconduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sectionsdistributed along said riser conduit;

essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passageof said objects therethrough;

depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from theoutside of said riser conduit;

opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riserconduit;

removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riserconduit; and

venting each of said closed riser conduit sections.

8. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chutesystem, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit;

dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduitsections distributed along said riser conduit;

essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passageof said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riserconduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening saidriser conduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects toproceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; and

providing air communication inside said riser conduit between adjacentclosed riser conduit sections.

9. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chutesystem, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit;

dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduitsections distributed along said riser conduit;

essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections against passageof said objects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riserconduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;

opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riserconduit;

removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riserconduit;

providing compressible fluid cushions at said closed riser conduitsections; and

braking a fall of deposited objects in said closed riser conduits withthe aid of said compressible fluid cushion.

10. In a method of conveying deposited objects through a gravity chutesystem, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a substantially vertical riser conduit;

dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sectionsdistributed along said riser conduit; essentially closing each of saidriser conduit sections against passage of said objects therethrough;

depositing objects in said closed riser conduit sections from theoutside of said riser conduit;

opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riserconduit, said opening of the riser conduit sections being accomplishedby proceeding in sequence from the lowermost section in an upwardlydirection to the uppermost section; and

removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riserconduit.

1. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects, theimprovement comprising in combination: a substantially vertical riserconduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality ofstationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit;said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of saidriser conduit sections in one position against passage of objectstherethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit fordepositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outside ofsaid riser cOnduit; means connected to said dividing means for openingsaid riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects toproceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operativelyassociated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objectsfrom a bottom region of said riser conduit; and means for venting eachof said closed riser conduit sections.
 1. In a gravity chute system forconveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riserconduit into a plurality of stationary riser conduit sectionsdistributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means includingmeans for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in oneposition against passage of objects therethrough; means operativelyassociated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riserconduit sections from the outside of said riser cOnduit; means connectedto said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections wherebyto permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of saidriser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit forremoving said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riserconduit; and means for venting each of said closed riser conduitsections.
 2. In a gravity chute system for conveying deposited objects,the improvement comprising in combination: a substantially verticalriser conduit; means for dividing said riser conduit into a plurality ofstationary riser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit;said dividing means including means for essentially closing each of saidriser conduit sections in one position against passage of objectstherethrough; means operatively associated with said riser conduit fordepositing objects in said riser conduit sections from the outseide ofsaid riser conduit; means connected to said dividing means for openingsaid riser conduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects toproceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; means operativelyassociated with said riser conduit for removing said deposited objectsfrom a bottom region of said riser conduit; and said dividing meansinclude means for providing air communication inside said riser conduitsections between said riser conduit sections when said riser conduitsections are closed for said objects.
 3. In a gravity chute system forconveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riserconduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed alongsaid riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and includingclosing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduitsections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; meansoperatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects insaid riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riserconduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward abottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated withsaid riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottomregion of said riser conduit; said dividing means include plate membersdimensional to extend over the entire cross section of said riserconduit; said opening means include means for actuating said platemembers to first positions in which the cross section of the riserconduit is substantially open; and said closing means include means foractuating said plate members to second positions in which the entirecross section of the riser conduit is essentially closed for saidobjects by said plate members.
 4. In a gravity chute system forconveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination:a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividing said riserconduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed alongsaid riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and includingclosing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduitsections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; meansoperatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects insaid riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riserconduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward abottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated withsaid riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottomregion of said riser conduit; said dividing means include aperturedmembers for providing air communication inside said riser conduitbetween said riser conduit sections when said riser conduit sections areclosed for said objects, said apertured members being dimensioned toextend over the entire cross section of said riser conduit; said openingmeans include means for actuating said apertured members to firstpositions in which the cross section of the riser conduit issubstantially open; and said closing means include means for actuatingsaid apertured members to second positions in which the entire crosssection of the riser conduit is essentially closed for said objects bysaid apertured members.
 5. In a gravity chute system for conveyingdeposited objects, the improvement comprising in combination: asubstantially veritcal riser conduit; means for dividing said riserconduit into a plurality of riser conduit sections distributed alongsaid riser conduit; said dividing means being stationary and includingclosing means for essentially closing each of said riser conduitsections in one position against passage of objects therethrough; meansoperatively associated with said riser conduit for depositing objects insaid riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;opening means connected to said dividing means for opening said riserconduit sections whereby to permit deposited objects to proceed toward abottom section of said riser conduit; means operatively associated withsaid riser conduit for removing said deposited objects from a bottomregion of said riser conduit; said dividing means include means forproviding compressible fluid cushions with movement of the riser conduitsections to their closed positions; and means connected to said fluidcushion providing means for braking the fall of deposited objects withthe aid of said compressible fluid sections.
 6. In a gravity chutesystem for conveying deposited objects, the improvement comprising incombination: a substantially vertical riser conduit; means for dividingsaid riser conduit into a plurality of riser conduit sectionsdistributed along said riser conduit; said dividing means includingmeans for essentially closing each of said riser conduit sections in oneposition against passage of objects therethrough; means operativelyassociated with said riser conduit for depositing objects in said riserconduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit; means connectedto said dividing means for opening said riser conduit sections wherebyto permit deposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of saidriser conduit; means operatively associated with said riser conduit forremoving said deposited objects from a bottom region of said riserconduit; and means is provided for opening the several riser conduitsections in sequence from the lowermost section in an upwardly directionto the uppermost section.
 7. In a method of conveying deposited objectsthrough a gravity chute system, the improvement comprising incombination the steps of: providing a substantially vertical riserconduit; dividing said riser conduit into a plurality of stationaryriser conduit sections distributed along said riser conduit; essentiallyclosing each of said riser conduit sections against passage of saidobjects therethrough; depositing objects in said closed riser conduitsections from the outside of said riser conduit; opening said riserconduit sections from time to time to permit deposited objects toproceed toward a bottom section of said riser conduit; removing saiddeposited objects from a bottom region of said riser conduit; andventing each of said closed riser conduit sections.
 8. In a method ofconveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, theimprovement comprising in combination the steps of: providing asubstantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riser conduit into aplurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along saidriser conduit; essentially closing each of said riser conduIt sectionsagainst passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in saidclosed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riserconduit; removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of saidriser conduit; and providing air communication inside said riser conduitbetween adjacent closed riser conduit sections.
 9. In a method ofconveying deposited objects through a gravity chute system, theimprovement comprising in combination the steps of: providing asubstantially vertical riser conduit; dividing said riser conduit into aplurality of stationary riser conduit sections distributed along saidriser conduit; essentially closing each of said riser conduit sectionsagainst passage of said objects therethrough; depositing objects in saidclosed riser conduit sections from the outside of said riser conduit;opening said riser conduit sections from time to time to permitdeposited objects to proceed toward a bottom section of said riserconduit; removing said deposited objects from a bottom region of saidriser conduit; providing compressible fluid cushions at said closedriser conduit sections; and braking a fall of deposited objects in saidclosed riser conduits with the aid of said compressible fluid cushion.